Ticks and Lyme Disease

With warmer weather, many people are outdoors and may be exposed to ticks. Infected black legged ticks (deer ticks,Ixodes scapulars)can transmit the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, which can cause Lyme disease. A few thoughts to keep in mind for the summer:

Most importantly, reduce your risk:
1. Use appropriate insect repellents.
2. Check everyone for ticks or other insects each night after being outdoors.
3. Remove any ticks promptly.

If you have found a tick, these are the steps to remove it (as recommended by the Center for Disease Control)
1. Use tweezers to grasp the cir as close to the skin’s surface as possible
2. Pull upward with steady, even pressure. If any mouth-parts break off and remain in the skin, try to remove
them. If the parts cannot be removed, leave them alone and the skin will extrude them.
3. After removing the tick, thoroughly clean the bite area and your hands with antibacterial soap.
4. Avoid remedies such as “painting” the tick with nail polish or petroleum jelly or using heat to make the
tick detach from the skin.

If a tick has been attached for less than 36 hours, transmission of the bacterium is very unlikely. If you believe the tick has been attached for more than 36 hours or you have further questions or concerns, please contact our office.